Guides / Cacti

Cacti

Spined desert specialists, distinct from the broader succulents.

Illustration of a prickly pear cactus

C

Christmas Cactus
Schlumbergera truncata
How to grow and reflower a Christmas cactus. Why it is not a desert cactus, how to tell it from a Thanksgiving cactus, and what causes bud drop.
Easy

P

Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia ficus-indica
How to grow Opuntia ficus-indica. Why the invisible bristles are worse than the spines, how to prepare the pads and fruit, growing it in Britain, and the moth that saved Australia.
EasySkin irritant